The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1887-09-22
Ew1saaA e ~ES 4 + ISf3Ef q /,
Tobacco Curing.

Inc last days OF august OF tlC iifSt
DAYS Of September usually usher in
the cutting season. Riponing is III
die ated bya yellow tinge, that daily
deepens across the field. The plan 5
have suckcred from bottom to top, j
the weather has been seasonable.
1t is now time to arrange matters
about the barn, re arrange tiering and
bring to hand the necessary material
for scaffolding, etc.
If there are many worms or suckers
in the field make a rush at them vita
additional help. Suckers, il allowea
to remain too long, retard ripeninss
and reduce the weight Of the plant
Worms iniure in both quality and
quantity Usually the barn should be
filled first. However, if it is favor
ably located or that the force Of the
west and southwest winds may be
broken. scafoiding about the barn
may be done with safety. So much
depends upon weather conditions that
we are unable to say after years OF eX-
perience which IS always the
right thing to be done. If the plants
are large and full Of sap. the difficulty
Of curing in the barn is greatly in
creased. II dry weather has proceed
ed the cutting season to such an eX-
tent that the plants in the field are
beginning to fire, the danger Of injury
in the house Is to some extent averted,
and besides the color and toughness
are both enhanced. This last condi-
ton, when there is little flow Of sap,
| is The best time to cut. Should there
come heavy fall Of rain and the
plants show disposition to change
color, turn your attention to other
matters until the yellow tinge returns.
The color and body of the crop de-
ponds to a great extent on the condi'
| tiGns We have mentioned.
In hanging it IS we'll to have tho
sticks sharpcned at each end. Drive
| them at proper intervals between the
rows to be cut, at an angle Of forty five
degrees. Allow the left hand t
| follow the knife down the opening
sever the plant from the ground just
| below the last desirable leaf; invert
and arrange it Oh the stick. Thi:
plan viii greatly expedite the process
especially if the plants are not TOO
brittle
If they are Of good size, five or si2
is sufficient. IF the weather is warn
follow with team and convey to til,
barn at once. When q stick is PLACED
ip the tier, the first thing to do is tt
& range the plants on the stick frs
move the end plant out to the tie
| pole, then arrange the others at regu
lar intervals By all means allow II,
punching on the stick. Renembe
that the plants Oh the stick and IL,
stick in the tie1 should be so arran
ged, that while they touch, they shoulc
not crowd each other in the least
Keep an eye to the weather, especial
ly if you scatfold in the sun IF higl
winds prevail, improvise windbreak
or carry it into the barn. If there i
no room inside, lay it upon the groun'
until the wind subsidies. Tobacco We!
shaken up when first put upon til
scafold, loses ii color, body and fla
vor. After it has begun to cure rail
or even heavy dews are Objectionable
If you have filed the barn first
watch the chance to make room 70
that on the outside. After ten or fl
teen days, close up the alternate tier
from top to bottom. III favorabl
weather for curing put the stick
about four inches apart. Keep al
the doors open except in storm,
weather. There are certain condi
tons of the weather when a singl
stick in an open shed will housed burn
When this is the case, al human ali
avails nothing Usaully, however
house-burn is the result Of oyercrowd
ing in the tiers or the lack of prope
ventilation. Injury from this Gauss
usually begins in barns on low fla
lands It will make matters worse
you should undertake to dry in IL
sun after damage has begun.
We will add these general rules t
De observed First-Allow no hand
in the field who Will drag or thro'
toba eco about after it has been cut.
| Second Cut as much as possible i
dry, settled weather. Third-In warn
weather handle before entirely wilteC
Fourth-Facilitate curing by a.
means except fire Fiftli-Remembe
that only the persistent, painstakin
man is a successful tobacco grower
Home and Farm
We want to see our farmer friend
MAKE ayhi hits of their ctopl, +ruit